Calibrachoa plant named &#39;incaltrsun&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Calibrachoa  plant named ‘INCALTRSUN’, characterized by its upright to outwardly spreading and low mounding to eventually trailing plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; dense and bushy appearance; early and freely flowering habit; large pale yellow-colored petals with cherry red-colored stripes, streaks and flecks; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Calibrachoa sp.

Cultivar denomination: ‘INCALTRSUN’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant, botanically known as Calibrachoa sp. and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘INCALTRSUN’.

The new Calibrachoa plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Heidesheim, Germany. The objective of the breeding program is to create new uniform, vigorous, freely-branching and early-flowering Calibrachoa plants with large attractive flowers and good garden performance.

The new Calibrachoa plant originated from a cross-pollination conducted by the Inventor in Heidesheim, Germany in December, 2013 of a proprietary selection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number Ca12-3602-64, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number Ca12-3606-90, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Calibrachoa plant was discovered and first selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Heidesheim, Germany in June, 2014.

Asexual reproduction of the new Calibrachoa plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Heidesheim, Germany since June, 2014 has shown that the unique features of this new Calibrachoa plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘INCALTRSUN’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘INCALTRSUN’ as a new and distinct Calibrachoa plant:

-   -   1. Upright to outwardly spreading and low mounding to eventually         trailing plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit; dense and bushy appearance.     -   4. Early and freely flowering habit.     -   5. Large pale yellow-colored petals with cherry red-colored         stripes, streaks and flecks.     -   6. Good garden performance.

The new Calibrachoa plant can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa have darker green-colored         leaves than plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa have larger flowers than plants         of the female parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and the female parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection         have pink-colored flowers.

The new Calibrachoa plant can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are not as compact as plants of         the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more freely flowering than         plants of the male parent selection.     -   3 Plants of the new Calibrachoa have larger flowers than plants         of the male parent selection.     -   4. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and the male parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection         have cherry red-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the Calibrachoa sp. ‘USCAL88203’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,229. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of ‘USCAL88203’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa have larger flowers than plants         of ‘USCAL88203’.     -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Calibrachoa have a more stable         color pattern than flowers of plants of ‘USCAL88203’.     -   3. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and ‘USCAL88203’ differ in         flower color as plants of ‘USCAL88203’ have yellow         orange-colored flowers with random red-colored flecks and         streaks.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can also be compared to plants of the Calibrachoa sp. ‘USCAL23101’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,493. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of ‘USCALI413-4’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more vigorous and denser         than plants of ‘USCALI413-4’.     -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa have larger flowers than plants         of ‘USCALI413-4’.     -   3. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and ‘USCALI413-4’ differ in         flower color as plants of ‘USCALI413-4’ have yellow-colored         flowers with red-colored centers and venation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Calibrachoa plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Calibrachoa plant.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘INCALTRSUN’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘INCALTRSUN’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the late winter in 10-cm containers in an acrylic-covered greenhouse in Carleton, Mich. and under cultural practices typical of commercial Calibrachoa production. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 30° C. and light levels averaged 1,500 foot-candles. Plants were seven weeks from planting rooted cuttings when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Calibrachoa sp. ‘INCALTRSUN’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number Ca12-3602-64, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number Ca12-3606-90, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 12 days at             temperatures about 25° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 16 days at             temperatures about 25° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plant, summer.—About 20 days at             temperatures about 25° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plant, winter.—About 20 days at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically             white in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on             substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and             formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of             roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright to outwardly spreading and             low mounding to eventually trailing plant habit; vigorous             growth habit; moderate growth rate; freely branching habit             with about three primary lateral branches each with             secondary branches developing at every node; dense and bushy             appearance.         -   Plant height.—About 9.5 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 22 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 10 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 1.5 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 1.5 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Aspect.—Initially upright then outwardly spreading to             eventually trailing.         -   Texture and luster.—Pubescent; matte.         -   Color, developing.—Close to 146C.         -   Color, developed.—Close to 146C. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Before flowering, alternate; after flowering,             opposite; leaves simple.         -   Length.—About 2.3 cm.         -   Width.—About 1.3 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptical.         -   Apex.—Broadly acute to rounded.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent,             minute; matte.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 146A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 146B. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 147A; venation,             close to 147B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 147B; venation, close to 146C.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 4 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Texture             and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent, minute;             matte. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 146C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single salverform flowers             arising from leaf axils; freely flowering habit with             typically about 110 flowers and flower buds developing per             plant; flowers face upright to outwardly.         -   Fragrance.—Faintly fragrant; pleasant, sweet and spicy.         -   Natural flowering season.—Early flowering, plants of the new             Calibrachoa begin flowering about six to seven weeks after             planting; plants flower continuously from the spring though             the summer until frost.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about one week on             the plant; flowers persistent.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2.2 cm. Diameter: About 7 mm.             Shape: Oblong, elongate. Texture and luster: Pubescent,             minute; matte. Color: Close to 151A.         -   Flower diameter.—About 3.2 cm by 3.4 cm.         -   Flower length (height).—About 2.5 cm.         -   Flower throat diameter.—About 6 mm by 8 mm.         -   Flower tube length.—About 2 cm.         -   Flower tube diameter.—Proximally, about 3 mm; distally,             about 8 mm.         -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Five fused petals opening into a             flared trumpet. Petal lobe length (from throat): About             1.4 cm. Petal lobe width: About 1.5 cm. Petal shape:             Fan-shaped. Petal apex: Rounded. Petal margin: Entire. Petal             texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous,             velvety; matte. Petal texture and luster, lower surface:             Pubescent, minute; matte. Throat texture and luster: Smooth,             glabrous; matte. Tube texture and luster: Pubescent, minute             and primarily along the veins; matte. Color: Petal lobe,             when opening, upper surface: Ground color, close to 2C;             stripes, streaks and flecks, close to 45D. Petal lobe, when             opening, lower surface: Close to 1C. Petal lobe, fully             opened, upper surface: Ground color, close to 2B; stripes,             streaks and flecks, close to 46C to 46D; venation, close to             195B; with development, ground color becoming closer to 162B             and stripes, streaks and flecks, becoming closer to 183D.             Petal lobe, fully opened, lower surface: Ground color, close             to 161C; stripes, streaks and flecks, close to 182C;             venation, close to 199C; with development, ground color             becoming closer to 161D. Throat: Close to 9A; venation,             close to 195A. Tube: Close to 161A; venation, close to 199B.             Calyx: Arrangement: One star-shaped calyx tube with five             sepals fused towards the base and arranged in a single             whorl. Length: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 1.8 cm. Sepal             length: About 1.1 cm. Sepal width: About 4 mm. Sepal shape:             Narrowly elliptic. Sepal apex: Acute. Sepal margin: Entire.             Sepal texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces:             Pubescent, minute; matte. Sepal color, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 146A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Angle:             About 45° to 55° from stem axis. Strength: Strong. Texture             and luster: Pubescent, minute; matte. Color: Close to 146C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Five per flower.             Filament length: About 1.2 cm. Filament color: Close to             145D. Anther size: About 1 mm by 1 mm. Anther shape: Round.             Anther color: Close to 7A. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen             color: Close to 9A. Pistils: Quantity: One per flower.             Pistil length: About 1.1 cm. Style length: About 9 mm, Style             color: Close to 146D. Stigma diameter: About 1 mm. Stigma             shape: Oval. Stigma color: Close to 146C. Ovary color: Close             to 145A. Seeds and fruits: Seed and fruit development have             not been observed on plants of the new Calibrachoa. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have been observed     to have good garden performance and tolerate wind, rain and to be     suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 9 to 11. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Calibrachoa plants. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Calibrachoa plant named ‘INCALTRSUN’ as illustrated and described. 